Journal
PARTICULATE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Volume 38, Issue 4, Pages 454-463Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC
DOI: 10.1080/02726351.2016.1158218
Keywords
Aggregates; asphaltene; fractal dimension; high pressure-high temperature; high-pressure microscope; live oil
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
In this work, high-pressure microscopy technique was used to measure the size and fractal dimension of asphaltene aggregates formed in different live oil samples at elevated pressures and temperatures. It was found that the asphaltene aggregates in live oil samples are irregular fractal-like structures with pressure-temperature-dependent fractal dimensions. By monitoring the variation of the fractal dimension and size of the asphaltene aggregates with pressure and temperature, the mechanisms responsible for asphaltene aggregation process at elevated pressures and temperatures can be well predicted. The range of fractal dimension of asphaltene aggregates in live oils is similar to that observed in classical colloidal systems. In light oil sample, depressurization process at lowest temperature (319 K) leads to the formation of large and loose aggregates, that is, porous aggregates with low fractal dimensions in the range from 1.63 to 1.72. With temperature rise, denser and more compact structures are formed with fractal dimensions varied in a narrow range of 1.90-2.01 at highest temperature of 408 K. In heavy oil sample, the fractal dimensions change in a wide range at different temperatures (1.56-1.90 at 368 K, and 1.68-1.89 at 333 K). From a practical viewpoint, the present study provides qualitative and quantitative information on the significance of pressure, temperature, and oil type on the shape/structure, and consequently density/compactness of asphaltene aggregates in live oils at pressure and temperature conditions of oil reservoirs.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available